Aluminium (Anodized) — Material Guide
Internal · Updated July 2026
What it is
Anodized aluminium is a coated aluminium material where the anodizing process creates a hard, durable surface layer. The laser engraving process removes the top coating layer to expose a contrasting colour underneath, creating a permanent marking that does not fade, peel, or wear off over time. The material is suitable for indoor, outdoor, and industrial environments.
Note on terminology: the process is technically etching (fiber laser, chemical reaction in the surface) but is communicated to customers as "laser engraving".
What it is used for
Anodized aluminium is the material used for our Laser Engraved Aluminium signs (under label & Plates).
The standard product in the Design Page is 1 mm and uses laser engraving. Printing on anodized aluminium is also possible but requires a separate production flow — always confirm with production before quoting printed anodized aluminium.
Material and specifications — 1 mm (standard)
| Material | Coated aluminium |
| Thickness | 1 mm |
| Available in Design Page | Under Labels & Plates |
| Production method | Laser engraving (fiber laser etching) — standard. Printing possible but requires separate flow. |
| Surface | Matte coated finish |
| Use | Indoor and outdoor |
| Minimum size (Design Page) | 30 × 18 mm |
| Maximum size (Design Page) | 295 × 295 mm |
| Maximum size per engraving pass | 170 × 100 mm — see size notes below |
| Dimensional accuracy | ±0.1 mm |
| Engraving depth | ±0.1 mm |
| Engraving sides | Both sides possible |
| Corrosion resistance | High |
| Chemical resistant | Yes |
| Acid resistant | Yes |
| Temperature resistance | Up to +400°C |
| Origin | Spain (black) / Germany (aluminium) |
| CO2e | 15.40 kg per m² (black, Spain) / 14.64 kg per m² (aluminium, Germany) |
Material and specifications — 3 mm (custom order only)
3 mm anodized aluminium is a special order product. A minimum order value of SEK 5,000 applies. Always confirm with production before quoting.
| Material | Coated aluminium |
| Thickness | 3 mm |
| Available in Design Page | No — special order only |
| Available colours | Aluminium colour. Additional colours may be considered for very large orders — confirm with production. |
| Production method | Laser engraving (fiber laser etching) — standard. Printing possible but requires separate flow. |
| Surface | Matte coated finish |
| Use | Indoor and outdoor |
| Min/Max/Sheet size | Material Size Guide — Min, Max, Print Area & Sheet Sizes |
| Maximum size per engraving pass | 170 × 100 mm — see size notes below |
| Dimensional accuracy | ±0.1 mm |
| Engraving depth | ±0.1 mm |
| Engraving sides | Both sides possible |
| Minimum order value | SEK 5,000 |
| Corrosion resistance | High |
| Chemical resistant | Yes |
| Acid resistant | Yes |
| Temperature resistance | Up to +400°C |
| Origin | |
| CO2e |
Thickness options
| 0,5 mm aluminium (anodized) | Special thickness option and need an order value of at least 5,000 SEK |
| 1,5 mm aluminium (lacquered) | Aluminium (Lacquered) - Material Guide (not anodized) |
Laminate and specifications
See: Laminate Guide — Types & Materials
| Type | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| UV laminate (standard) | Technical name | 215MDU 1240x50m Laminate for Aluminium |
| Laminate origin | Germany | |
| Technical sheet | Technical sheet | |
| Decal for reflective (special) | Technical name | Reflective Print Vinyl 5600 1.235x25m |
| Printed on and applied to the aluminium before laminate | Decal origin | Germany |
| Technical sheet | Technical sheet | |
| Reflective laminate (special) | Technical name | Oraguard 293G Reflective laminate 1.22x50m |
| Laminate origin | Germany | |
| Technical sheet | Technical sheet |
Engraving depth and accuracy — important note
Unlike engraved plastic, etching on aluminium does not have a comparable fixed engraving depth — the process is a surface-level chemical reaction rather than a physical cut into the material. If a customer asks about engraving depth, the relevant value to give is dimensional accuracy: ±0.1 mm.
Note: dimensional accuracy and engraving depth are two separate values. Always confirm which one the customer is actually asking about before answering.
Important notes
-
The laser engraves up to 170 × 100 mm in a single pass. For larger signs within the 295 × 295 mm limit, text can often be split into separate engraving areas — confirm with production before quoting.
-
For very small laser engraved signs — avoid designs with frames or text placed too close to the edges, as these cannot be produced cleanly.
-
For larger laser engraved signs — avoid frames and large filled objects or images, as these cannot be reproduced well beyond the engraving pass limit.
- QR codes work well on laser engraved aluminium. Barcodes can be difficult to scan depending on the customer's reader or scanner. Always recommend sending test signs for larger orders before confirming full production.
Available colour combinations — 1 mm standard
- Silver / Black
- Gold / Black
- Black / White
- Blue / White
- Red / White
Additional colours may be available for very large orders — confirm with production.
Fixing method options — 1 mm
| Fixing method | Min (W × H mm) | Max (W × H mm) | Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | 30 × 18 mm | 170 × 100 mm | |
| Screw | 30 × 18 mm | 170 × 100 mm | Screws — Fixing Method |
| Adhesive tape (foam pads) | 30 × 18 mm | 170 × 100 mm | Adhesive Tape — Fixing Method |
| Keyring | 30 × 18 mm | 170 × 100 mm | |
| Custom holes | 30 × 18 mm | 170 × 100 mm |
Shape-specific exceptions — anodized aluminium labels and plates
| Shape | Fixing method | Min (W × H mm) | Max (W × H mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oval, Stop, Rotated square | None, Screw, Adhesive tape, Keyring | 50 × 20 mm | 170 × 100 mm |
| Rounded Corners, Oval, Stop, Rotated square | Custom holes | Not available | |
Custom options
Most laser engraved aluminium requests can be handled through the standard assortment. Custom requests fall outside the standard Design Page flow and require a minimum order value of SEK 5,000.
Always confirm with production before quoting — never estimate prices for custom requests without checking first.
| Option | Notes |
|---|---|
| 3 mm thickness | Special order. Minimum order value SEK 5,000. See 3 mm specifications above. |
| Printed anodized aluminium | Possible but requires a separate production flow. Confirm with production before quoting. |
| Additional colours | Outside the standard range. May be available for very large orders — confirm with production. |
| No laminate | Anodized aluminium can be produced without laminate but will lose significant durability. Note: removing laminate does not always reduce cost, as it requires a custom production flow. |
| Custom sizes | Special Routine — Size |
| Custom shapes & cut out | Special Routine — Shape and Cut Out |
| Bent signs | Special Routine — Bent Signs |
| Prismatic RA2 laminate (highly reflective) | Prismatic Signs (RA2) — Special Material Guide |
Common use cases
- Industrial and machine labels — permanent markings that resist wear, chemicals, and high temperatures in production environments.
- Equipment and asset labels — long-term identification that will not fade or peel over years of use.
- Safety signs — durable and legible for regulatory and safety signage in industrial facilities.
- Outdoor identification signs — suitable for exposed outdoor installations where weather resistance and longevity are priorities.
- Technical signage — reliable for control panels, equipment markings, and other technical environments.
- Double-sided signs — one of the few engraved materials that can be laser engraved on both sides.
Sustainability
CO2e varies by colour variant:
- Black aluminium — 15.40 kg CO2e per m², sourced from Spain
- Aluminium — 14.64 kg CO2e per m², sourced from Germany
Anodized aluminium is designed for very long-term use, and the permanent engraving reduces replacement frequency, lowering total environmental impact over time.